Smartpen maker Livescribe raises $10M
Livescribe, which makes a smartpen that includes its own display, microprocessor, and audio recorder, has raised another $10.175 million in funding.
The Pulse pen’s recording feature means users have an audio recording to supplement and correct their hand-written notes. That’s something I would have loved as a student, and could be even more useful to me now, as a journalist. The product is targeted at professionals and college students. On Feb. 17, the Oakland, Calif. company… Continue Reading
Cobalt Biofuels gets $25M for biobutanol
Usually when a startup classifies itself as a biofuel company, it makes one of two fuels: biodiesel or ethanol. However, there’s a range of alternatives that could be commercialized, one of which Cobalt Biofuels is after: biobutanol, a liquid fuel that is more similar to gasoline than ethanol.
Cobalt has just taken a third venture round of $25 million to put further work into the fuel, which it plans to use as an additive for either… Continue Reading
Big companies line up to invest in cellulosic — Mascoma is latest beneficiary, gets $81M
With oil past $120 a barrel and possibly headed to $200, cellulosic ethanol companies are looking like a smarter investment choice every day. Following the increase of Range Fuels’ second funding to $166 million, its competitor Mascoma has pulled the wraps off an $81 million funding of its own, with $10 million coming a major oil and gas producer, Marathon Oil Corporation.
Range, Mascoma, Coskata and others are all racing to raise huge amounts in an… Continue Reading
California environmental advisor Terry Tamminen on trains, energy efficiency, Al Gore and more
Terry Tamminen is the former top environmental advisor of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and is also former secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He has a reputation for having “turned Arnie green”.
Tamminen left his post as permanent advisor in 2006 but says he still advises Schwarzenegger as well as the governors of Florida, Maryland and, Minnesota, on the renewal of environmental legislation. Tamminen also has a role in venture capital: He sits on the… Continue Reading
UPDATE: Vantage Point closes Israel office, lets some staff go
Silicon Valley venture capital firm Vantage Point Venture Partners has closed its office has curtailed its investment effort in Israel, after making two investments over the two years it has been there.
It has let some staff members go, however we don’t know how many. We’ve contacted Vantage Point for comment.
[Update: We've heard back from Vantage Point, and they confirmed that they've curtailed efforts there, for example, ending a relationship with investor David Ram. However, they... Continue Reading
Mascoma gets $30M for cellulosic ethanol — in bid to replace gasoline
Mascoma, a start-up that is trying to become the first commercial developer of cellulosic ethanol — something some environmentalists see as the Shangri La of alternative fuel — will announce tomorrow it has raised $30 million more in venture funding.
Funding for the Cambridge, Mass. company was led by General Catalyst Partners, and included Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Vantage Point Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, and Pinnacle Ventures. Existing investors Khosla Ventures and Flagship Ventures participated.
Khsola… Continue Reading